I took a walk up my driveway yesterday. The bitter wind whipped snow against my face, making the single-digit temperatures feel like negative-awful-degrees, but I didn’t even care.

I desperately needed out of my house, even if only for 10 freezing minutes. 

Sickness has been floating around our family for the last month or so, as it usually does this time of year. I spent the better part of last week sharing sleepless nights and feverish cuddles with our daughter who had a nasty cough. Add to that the cold spell that has swept much of the country this week cancelling school and extracurricular events and keeping us inside, and I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been feeling pretty frazzled. 

RELATED: To the Mom With the Winter Blues

I find myself in this place every year. Maybe I should be used to it by now, but for some reason, the chunk of time between the holidays and spring is without a doubt the hardest part of the year for me. Group chats, the news, and my Facebook feed tell me I’m not alone in that. 

Call it seasonal depression or call it serious cabin fever—whatever it is, this season is hard for a lot of people. And as a mom? Sometimes it feels downright unbearable.

The endless germs floating around. The days called off from school for bad weather. The countless interruptions to routine and regular life. The overstimulation from my kids who are feeling just as cooped up as I am. 

My nerves are shot.

My patience is so thin.

I feel like I’ve been apologizing on repeat for my grumpiness and snappy responses.

Then there’s the mom guilt—maybe that’s the worst part of all. I know these days of our entire family under the same roof with nowhere to be and nothing but time together are exactly what I’ll long for when my kids are grown. I feel selfish that it seems so hard right now. 

I am just so tired. The weather is just so blah. I am just so ready for spring. If you’re feeling this way too, I need you to know you aren’t alone. 

This time of year is hard.

Seasonal depression is hard.

Being constantly on mom duty with your family—regardless of how very much you love them—with no time to yourself is hard.

The lack of routine and schedule is hard.

Having events you looked forward to get canceled is hard.

Momming when everyone is home for days on end and the weather is too nasty to go outside for fresh air and sunshine is hard.

RELATED: My Kids Are Sick AGAIN Because Winter is Basically the Worst

The first months of the year are tough, and I think it’s okay for us to acknowledge that. Maybe that’s what makes it all more bearable—the realization that we aren’t alone and we’re not horrible moms for having these struggles.

So do what you have to do to make it through, friend.

Put on 13 layers of whatever mismatched winter gear you can find and go outside, even if it’s just long enough to get some fresh air in your lungs.

Excuse yourself to your bedroom and shut the door for a few minutes of quiet.

Soak in a hot bath once the kids are in bed.

Try to find beautiful moments in between the discouraging ones.

More than anything, give yourself a little more grace—I’ll try too.

Spring is just around the corner, mama friend. We’ve got this.